At 40, Leander Paes Eyes 2016 Olympics

Written by: Staff on 12th April 2013

At 40, Leander Paes Eyes 2016 Olympics

epa03084278 Leander Paes of India celebrates a point in his mixed doubles final match with Elena Vesnina of Russia against Bethanie Mattek-Sands of the United States of America and Horia Tecau of Romania during day fourteen of the 2012 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 29, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia. Tecau/Mattek-Sands won the match. EPA/MARK KOLBE POOL |

Leander Paes will turn 40 years of age in between the French Open and Wimbledon in June but the Indian still maintains he feels sufficiently fit to contest the next Olympic Games in Brazil three and a half years from now.

Paes, winner of seven doubles and six mixed doubles Grand Slam titles maintains Rio de Janeiro 2016 is well within his playing range because his fitness has never been better and he is playing injury free.

The Goa born right-hander, currently based in Kolkata and with a career haul in prize money currently standing at $US m7.25 million enhanced by a successful business life and a budding career at a Bollywood actor, won a singles bronze medal at the Atlanta Games of 1996, despite playing with a severely injured wrist.

Always a political figure in the maelstrom of Indian tennis governance, he maintains the current breed of emergent younger players continue to inspire and motivate him to keep his game at a high level.

“Yuki Bhambri, Somdev Devvarman and Sanam Singh, who are future Indian players, would motivate me to participate in next Olympic Games,” said Paes who last weekend played his 50^th Davis Cup tie as India beat Indonesia 5-0 and avoid relegation to the Asia/Oceania Zone Group Two.

Paes partnered Sanam Singh to an easy 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 win and said: “”My passion for the game and the privilege of representing India are the biggest motivating factors for me. I feel good enough to play for another three and a half years.”

Meanwhile Paes is still looking for a regular doubles partner for 2013 with Radek Stepanek opting to play less of the two-man a side game this year after undergoing spinal surgery after the Australian Open in January.

Paes did not contest Indian Wells and partnered Michael Llodra in Miami but said: “It is a tough task for me at the moment because a lot of players are already set up for the year. I had an option in Miami to get a very good partner, but that did not materialize,” he said.

“The first month when Radek comes back, he will play some singles and after that it will be known whether he is ready for doubles.”

©Daily Tennis News Wire

Topics: Indian tennis news, Leander Paes, Olympics 2016, Sanam Singh, Somdev Devvarman, Sports, Yuki Bhambri